🖼️
The project:
The original laundry had the basic metal laundry cabinet-sink and very little storage space. It is an area that I spend a lot of time in and people passed through to go to the backyard. I wanted a laundry that was attractive, highly functional with well-planned storage space in my small home. My daughter and I worked with the team at Mentone Bunnings to come up with a design that suited my wish list and space.
- Materials:
Kaboodle flat packs that were a combination of laundry and kitchen cabinets in Macaroon. These included: a pullout clothes rack that could be hidden behind the cupboard and a slide out laundry hamper. Laminated timber bench top, Sink Granite Qudro Abey, Salento Handles 96mm Gold, Gold flexible hose mixer for the tap, Robinhood Ironing center. Other materials purchased were: Cement sheeting for damaged areas. Removing and replacing broken tiles of which I use the Dulux wall and floor tile adhesive. For the wall, QEP 3mm T-Shape Tile Spacers, Dunlop flexible white grout and coloured for the floor (regrouted the floor tiles), Selley's no-more gaps, and silicone for wet areas, Bondall- Betta tile Care sealer. For wall scuffs and dints - Gyprock CSR 2.25kg Less Mess Topping Compound and premixed plaster. Paint on the walls was Bristol macaroon waterbase.
- Tools:
My husband with a friend did the main construction of the cabinets with an electric screwdriver. To construct and attach a frame of 19 x 50ml pine to the wall for the cupboards: a spirit level, electric drill and screwdriver, circular saw, were used. The base cupboards came with legs that you could screw in and cover with the base panel provided. Jigsaw was used to cut the sink hole in the bench. The tiling and painting were my jobs. QEP 6mm Square Notch Plastic Adhesive Spreader QEP Tile Sponge, QEP Home Pro Grout Float, DTA Tile Scriber and Grout Remover, DTA 300mm Handyman Tile Cutter and a 4-inch grinder. Paint brushes and roller.
- Step 1:
Measure up the space and decide on what you would like as a wish list to be include in the layout of the laundry.
- Step 2:
Book a time and sit down with the Bunnings advisor to complete a plan for the laundry.
At this stage they were able to show the latest products available, and this was when I decided to add the slide out clothes racks and laundry hamper. Once this was done, they could create a digital photo of what it would look like. From there we could make any adjustments such as moving the slide out hamper cabinet to the other side of the washing machine for the final plans.
- Step 3:
Choose the benchtop, fittings and sink to go with the order. This will allow everything to be costed and delivered at within a good timeframe.
- Step 4:
Prepare the laundry before delivery, by removing the sink and tiles which allows required prep work and mending to be completed. There was water damage around the sink and broken tiles that require replacing. This was replaced with cement sheeting that can be sealed by Crommelin 1L Flat Aquablock Waterproof Primer Undercoat.
- Step 5:
Then construct the framework for the base cabinets. With the template provided, cut the hole out for the sink then attach the benchtop to the cabinet frame. Keep the bench covered so it does not get damaged. The sink and mixer tap can then be installed. Keep these covered as well for protection.
- Step 6:
Measure and draw a line were your tile height will cover above the benchtop. Then build and attach the framework for the overhead cabinets. The framework is drilled into the vertical studs which gives a sturdy area to attach the cabinets. Attach the outer shells of the cabinets to the framework. Once this is done the tiling can be completed between the benchtop and the overhead cabinets.
- Step 7:
Attach the doors hinges, doors and handles of the cabinets.
- Step 8:
Grout and clean tiles.
- Step 9:
Install the Robinhood Iron Centre. We had the electrician put in a power point close to the centre. Also hidden power points in some cupboards and on the wall to keep the tiles uninterrupted.
- Step 10:
Finishing touches. Paint roof and walls. Remove protective paper from the benchtop, sink and taps. Finish scoring the grout on the floor tiles and complete the grouting and cleaning. We had the electrician come in and add an LED light strip to the base of the cupboards. This created a lovely finishing touch and highlighted the texture of the tiles.
